Hammond toughens 'vicious' dog ordinances

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HAMMOND - The Hammond City Council has voted to strengthen city's ordinances on the control of dogs deemed to be dangerous and vicious. The move as prompted by an incident earlier this year in which a young girl was severely mauled by two dogs on the outskirts of the city.

City Attorney Andre Coudrain says one major change in the revised ordinance is requiring that an animal be declared dangerous and vicious by the Hammond City Court, and not by law enforcement officials making a judgment based on personal observation to whether a dog was "dangerous and vicious."

Officials say law enforcement officers will have full authority to remove dangerous and vicious dogs.

The ordinance, approved Tuesday, calls for a fine of up to $300 a day for violations.